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Gay rights laws facing challenge Gay rights laws challenge fails
(about 2 hours later)
New laws banning discrimination against gay people in the provision of goods and services are facing a challenge in the House of Lords. New rules outlawing businesses from discriminating against homosexuals have been upheld in the House of Lords.
A challenge led by Lord Morrow of the Democratic Unionist Party failed by a majority of three to one.
He had argued that the rules forced people to choose between obedience to God and obedience to the state.
But Northern Ireland Minister Lord Rooker said it would be "quite wrong" to elevate the rights of one group above those of another.
Demonstration
Lord Morrow's call to annul the regulations, which have applied in Northern Ireland since 1 January and are due to be implemented across the UK by April, was defeated by 199 votes to 68.
The Sexual Orientation Regulations have been criticised by some religious groups who say people will not be allowed to act according to faith.The Sexual Orientation Regulations have been criticised by some religious groups who say people will not be allowed to act according to faith.
Protesters have gathered outside Parliament as a peer makes an attempt in the Lords to scrap the regulations.
But gay rights groups say no mainstream religious groups support the protest.
The regulations came into force in Northern Ireland on 1 January and the government is planning to introduce them in England, Wales and Scotland, by April.
Homophobia denied
Critics say they would mean hotels could not refuse to provide rooms for gay couples, and religious groups would be obliged to rent out halls for "gay wedding" receptions.
They also argue a Christian, Jewish or Muslim printer could be forced to print a flyer for a gay night club, or a teacher would have to break the law to promote heterosexual marriage over homosexual civil partnership.
Christians...cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong Thomas CordreyLawyer's Christian Fellowship Head-to-head: gay rights Have your sayChristians...cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong Thomas CordreyLawyer's Christian Fellowship Head-to-head: gay rights Have your say
Democratic Unionist peer Lord Morrow has put forward a motion calling for the Northern Ireland regulations to be annulled and amended - to be discussed in an hour-long "dinner debate" in the House of Lords on Tuesday. Hundreds of Christians demonstrated outside Parliament, but gay rights groups say no mainstream religious groups supported the protest.
Several hundred people gathered outside Parliament for the rally, chanting slogans, singing and holding placards. Critics say the new rules mean hotels cannot refuse to provide rooms for gay couples, and religious groups would be obliged to rent out halls for "gay wedding" receptions.
Ralph Brockman, a Baptist from London, told the BBC: "I'm concerned that the Biblical laws should be upheld. They also argue a Christian, Jewish or Muslim printer could be forced to print a flyer for a gay night club, or a teacher would have to break the law to promote heterosexual marriage over homosexual civil partnership.
One of those taking part in the demonstration outside Parliament, Ralph Brockman, a Baptist from London, told the BBC: "I'm concerned that the Biblical laws should be upheld.
"People may have different orientations but we need to have laws that will fence in our behaviour, as it were.""People may have different orientations but we need to have laws that will fence in our behaviour, as it were."
John Studley, a Christian from London, said: "This government is placing sexual rights over religious rights."John Studley, a Christian from London, said: "This government is placing sexual rights over religious rights."
But Neil Partridge, a gay Christian man, said: "Everyone has a right to their faith but is it fair to say to someone 'you can't share a bed in our hotel because you are gay'.But Neil Partridge, a gay Christian man, said: "Everyone has a right to their faith but is it fair to say to someone 'you can't share a bed in our hotel because you are gay'.
"A hotel is a business, surely. I just think some of the people at this demonstration need to listen to the other side of the argument.""A hotel is a business, surely. I just think some of the people at this demonstration need to listen to the other side of the argument."
He added: "Recently British Airways was criticised for not allowing staff to wear crucifixes and now some Christians are advocating this policy. I think the recent law is a good thing."He added: "Recently British Airways was criticised for not allowing staff to wear crucifixes and now some Christians are advocating this policy. I think the recent law is a good thing."
Supporters of the regulations say they simply extend to gay people the same rights that had been granted to people of different faiths in 1998.Supporters of the regulations say they simply extend to gay people the same rights that had been granted to people of different faiths in 1998.
Some of the things that we've come across are where schools aren't tackling homophobic bullying properly, where people have been struck off by GPs because they were gay. Alan WardleStonewall href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6245111.stm" class="">Controversy over the law In a statement, the Board of Deputies of British Jews distanced itself from the protest, saying the regulations would "provide a further platform to combat discrimination in this country".
The National Secular Society accused religious groups of "gross exaggeration" to get the law annulled, with president Terry Sanderson saying: "Parliament must not pander to their bigotry."
In a statement on Tuesday, the Board of Deputies of British Jews distanced itself from the protest, saying the regulations would "provide a further platform to combat discrimination in this country".
But it said it hoped the regulations would be "framed in such a way that allows for both the effective combating of discrimination in the provision of goods and services whilst respecting freedom of conscience and conviction".
A High Court judicial review against the regulations in Northern Ireland, brought by the Christian Institute, will be heard in March.A High Court judicial review against the regulations in Northern Ireland, brought by the Christian Institute, will be heard in March.